Senior Scams Proliferate in Victoria, BC


Scam. A confidence game or other fraudulent scheme, especially for making a quick profit; swindle. Dictionary.com.

Seniors have become a highly targeted group for scams. They're faculities might be diminished, or possibly, they're alone.

In Victoria, British Columbia, elderly people have lately become the target of door-to-door scams.

Some of the victims have dementia and are especially prone to scams, including paying inflated prices for work around the house. Then, the work is incomplete.

During the work, credit cards can be stolen with false charges racked up.

Police in Saanich, the county seat of Victoria, say senior scams are growing in the area.

Saanich police spokesman Sgt. Dean Jantzen told Times Colonist: ""We've seen this on more than one occasion, where these frauds lead to thefts, and we believe what happens is there is a bit of diversionary tactic and the fraudster enters the home and heads for the purse or wallet and takes the cards."

Sgt. Jantzen called upon caregivers, family members and victims to come forward with information.

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